Showing posts with label Psalm 25. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 25. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1153
¶Proper 12
¶July 24, 2022
¶Psalm 25
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+25&version=NRSVUE
Please follow this link to read the psalm first.
(NRSV)
¶The adage, “Never meet your heroes, you will always be disappointed,” is good advice. We usually discover that they have some habit, tic, or quirk that is extremely annoying to us. We may also discover that they do not behave or believe what we would have expected from our limited exposure to them. It may appear super easy to learn from them or to get to know them until we actually get the opportunity to do so.
¶The psalmist wants to grow closer to God, and the same warnings apply. The God we think we know, may not be the God we will meet as we delve into prayer, study, and experience. The way of God is difficult, as it requires humility, love, and faithfulness. God points us in the direction of loving those who do not deserve it, and need it desperately. God also asks us to look to ourselves, to see our faults as well as our strengths so that we can correct our faults and build on strengths for the building up of the realm of God.
¶Feel free to meet heroes, knowing that they may be very different from what we expect them to be. Know too, that you are likely someone’s hero and they are or will be disappointed that you do not live up to their expectations. Feel free, as well to meet God for the sake of learning to live in love and faithfulness. It is hard work that is worth the effort to live into the covenant God offers to us.
¶July 18, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, January 17, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1127
¶Third Sunday After Epiphany
¶January 23, 2022
¶Psalm 25
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
¶Every now and then the weight of the world attempts to crush us to the ground. When we attempt to hold off the crushing force alone, we will be destroyed. The weight will grow too much for us and we will be left exhausted and alone in a ball of flesh and sobs. As long as we believe that we can handle this alone, we are doomed. Worse yet, if we believe that no one cares about us, or that we are not worthy of another’s love and care, we are both doomed and despairing.
¶The psalmist tells us that we are not alone. At the very least, the steadfast love of God is available to protect us from, or stand with us in the crushing times of our lives. Seemingly going through one of these times, the psalmist forgets to mention that there are people around us who are also willing to love us in and through our trials. These are the folks who sit with us, hold us, talk to us, listen to us as we express our need for each of those. These folks are instruments and conduits of God’s love for us.
¶Having gone through a trial of any kind, we have the opportunity to offer help, security, and love to anyone going through a trial of their own. We can off them the same love and support we received, or we can offer the love and support we would have liked to receive. Either way, we can be people of God to those around us.
¶January 17, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, November 13, 2017
Psalm Meditation 909
Proper 28
November 19, 2017
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
Sometimes we get convinced that to be a person of God means never having to suffer, never having to be troubled, and never having to go through anything unpleasant. The psalmist reminds us that those who believe those things are not quite on the mark. We think it would be nice if we never had to suffer any pain, torment, or treachery. But would it? It is interesting to consider what our lives would be without the pain and suffering we go through. It would mean we never loved anyone or anything enough to sacrifice for them. It would mean we never cared about anyone enough to feel their pain and anguish. It would mean never making mistakes to learn and grow from, sometimes more than once. Being human is painful.
The psalmist also reminds us that in all of our suffering God is with us. We feel pain, sorrow, and sadness but not alone. We feel lonely and cut off from everything and everybody, however God is with us. At some point we find the wherewithal to face the rest of the world and we find the presence of God all around us and within us. It is God’s presence that has made it possible for us to get as far as we have gotten. We feel as if we have been plucked up out of the situation though it has been a longer, slower process than we see at the moment.
God does not keep us from pain and suffering so much as God redeems our pain and suffering. At some point we find strength, courage, and resolve to move forward because we have experienced pain. Much as we think it would be nice to live lives of lollipops, rainbows, and unicorns, most of us don’t learn things that way and we certainly don’t grow that way. We go through pain and suffering, and we go through it in the presence of God.
November 13, 2017
LCM
Proper 28
November 19, 2017
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
Sometimes we get convinced that to be a person of God means never having to suffer, never having to be troubled, and never having to go through anything unpleasant. The psalmist reminds us that those who believe those things are not quite on the mark. We think it would be nice if we never had to suffer any pain, torment, or treachery. But would it? It is interesting to consider what our lives would be without the pain and suffering we go through. It would mean we never loved anyone or anything enough to sacrifice for them. It would mean we never cared about anyone enough to feel their pain and anguish. It would mean never making mistakes to learn and grow from, sometimes more than once. Being human is painful.
The psalmist also reminds us that in all of our suffering God is with us. We feel pain, sorrow, and sadness but not alone. We feel lonely and cut off from everything and everybody, however God is with us. At some point we find the wherewithal to face the rest of the world and we find the presence of God all around us and within us. It is God’s presence that has made it possible for us to get as far as we have gotten. We feel as if we have been plucked up out of the situation though it has been a longer, slower process than we see at the moment.
God does not keep us from pain and suffering so much as God redeems our pain and suffering. At some point we find strength, courage, and resolve to move forward because we have experienced pain. Much as we think it would be nice to live lives of lollipops, rainbows, and unicorns, most of us don’t learn things that way and we certainly don’t grow that way. We go through pain and suffering, and we go through it in the presence of God.
November 13, 2017
LCM
Monday, April 11, 2016
Psalm Meditation 826
Fourth Sunday of Easter
March 17, 2016
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
Sadly, I am more offended when I am looked on as evil by others than when I am quick to call out the evil of others. I can only imagine the smile that creeps onto the face of God when we call each other names and set each other apart as ‘them’ and ‘those people.’ When one of our own commits a questionable act we are quick to defend them as misunderstood and to invoke the steadfast love of God for this child of God. When someone from any one of ‘those people’ does the same thing we are just as quick to call down the wrath and judgment of God on this wantonly treacherous person.
Politics and theology generate a great deal of passion for and against a given point of view. It is interesting that we are quick to defend our own party and viewpoint in a discussion or argument, before we hear the viewpoints of ‘others.’ On more than one occasion I had a heated argument with a seminary classmate only to discover that we were in agreement on everything but the vocabulary of our discussion. We had to talk and listen long enough to realize that we were not as ‘other’ as we were determined to believe.
“All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.” My sense is that many of our newsworthy arguments are not over right vs wrong, righteous vs sinful, or patriotic vs unpatriotic so much as they are over emphasis, vocabulary and priorities. It is important to have the discussions, even when they turn to arguments, as long as we continue to listen to others and look for the steadfast love of God in the arguments and in the people.
April 11, 2016
LCM
Fourth Sunday of Easter
March 17, 2016
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
Sadly, I am more offended when I am looked on as evil by others than when I am quick to call out the evil of others. I can only imagine the smile that creeps onto the face of God when we call each other names and set each other apart as ‘them’ and ‘those people.’ When one of our own commits a questionable act we are quick to defend them as misunderstood and to invoke the steadfast love of God for this child of God. When someone from any one of ‘those people’ does the same thing we are just as quick to call down the wrath and judgment of God on this wantonly treacherous person.
Politics and theology generate a great deal of passion for and against a given point of view. It is interesting that we are quick to defend our own party and viewpoint in a discussion or argument, before we hear the viewpoints of ‘others.’ On more than one occasion I had a heated argument with a seminary classmate only to discover that we were in agreement on everything but the vocabulary of our discussion. We had to talk and listen long enough to realize that we were not as ‘other’ as we were determined to believe.
“All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.” My sense is that many of our newsworthy arguments are not over right vs wrong, righteous vs sinful, or patriotic vs unpatriotic so much as they are over emphasis, vocabulary and priorities. It is important to have the discussions, even when they turn to arguments, as long as we continue to listen to others and look for the steadfast love of God in the arguments and in the people.
April 11, 2016
LCM
Monday, December 10, 2012
Psalm Meditation 652
Third Sunday of Advent
December 16, 2012
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
For whose benefit do we ask God to forget our sins and shower us with steadfast love? It is certainly not a reminder needed by God. It is a part of who God is to love us beyond our deserving and to forgive us when we wander or run away from the ways of God. It must be out of our own insecurities and our leaning toward projecting ourselves on to God. It is part of our human nature to expect others to think and act in ways similar to our own. So we ask God to forget our sins and to remember to shower us with love because our habit toward others is the opposite.
If 99 people give us compliments and one person gives us complaint and criticism, most of us will remember the one who had something critical to say. Since that is our own process, we will expect God to react the same way. God is not like us. God encourages and prods us to move toward being like God in many ways, including being quick to forgive and ready to love folks. God forgives and loves, not because we deserve it, rather because God chooses to forgive and love.
As we take refuge in God, put ourselves more often and more closely in the presence of God, we discover that we are becoming more and more like God. We find ourselves willing to forgive and love those who don’t ask for or deserve that kind of treatment from us. We will get mistreated and folks will take advantage of us and we will continue to choose love and forgiveness because that is who we are becoming and who God always is. And God relieves the troubles of our hearts and brings us out of our distress whether the reality of our situation changes or not.
December 10, 2012
Third Sunday of Advent
December 16, 2012
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
(NRSV)
For whose benefit do we ask God to forget our sins and shower us with steadfast love? It is certainly not a reminder needed by God. It is a part of who God is to love us beyond our deserving and to forgive us when we wander or run away from the ways of God. It must be out of our own insecurities and our leaning toward projecting ourselves on to God. It is part of our human nature to expect others to think and act in ways similar to our own. So we ask God to forget our sins and to remember to shower us with love because our habit toward others is the opposite.
If 99 people give us compliments and one person gives us complaint and criticism, most of us will remember the one who had something critical to say. Since that is our own process, we will expect God to react the same way. God is not like us. God encourages and prods us to move toward being like God in many ways, including being quick to forgive and ready to love folks. God forgives and loves, not because we deserve it, rather because God chooses to forgive and love.
As we take refuge in God, put ourselves more often and more closely in the presence of God, we discover that we are becoming more and more like God. We find ourselves willing to forgive and love those who don’t ask for or deserve that kind of treatment from us. We will get mistreated and folks will take advantage of us and we will continue to choose love and forgiveness because that is who we are becoming and who God always is. And God relieves the troubles of our hearts and brings us out of our distress whether the reality of our situation changes or not.
December 10, 2012
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